1968 Chevy eBay Motors Hot Rod Van Build

This madness involved everything we like: competition, contests, eBay Motors, good causes, and cool old vans. Well, maybe not the last part, but HOT ROD aimed to change your idea of what a cool project van should be, with the help of eBay and Mackey’s Hot Rod Shop in Huntington Beach, California.

HOT ROD and three sister publications each purchased vehicles from eBay’s auction site to reimagine using parts purchased mostly from eBay Motors. The magazine with the winning project, as voted on at BuiltFromEbay.com back in August 2012, got to choose where the proceeds from the auction of all four vehicles on eBay would be donated.

The van was revealed to be a rusty heap once Mackey’s tore into it, but it had a stout 350/400 engine and trans combo, and would soon be better with nitrous. Mackey’s had the concept, the expertise, a wad of money, and six weeks build time to make our readers proud.

All four projects were completed for the ’12 SEMA show in Las Vegas in November. Lowrider took the prize, but you can see all the build episodes and bonus footage at BuiltFromEbay.com.

[05.31.2012]

[06.01.2012]

4/12After smoking over the condition and basically thrashing around town, the tear-apart began with what comprised the entire crew at Mackey’s: Mr. Lee, Andy McDonough, and Brian Mackey.

[06.13.2012]

5/12Here, hand stripping and patching are well underway. The rockers, lower rear quarters, low- er doors, and windshield area needed extensive metalwork. The side doors were welded shut, and new louvered skins were made for the rear doors. Mackey used lead around the A- pillar and windshield surround. By this time, vintage aircraft pieces for the interior, suspen- sion rubber and upgrades, and window rubbers and paint materials had all been ordered from eBay Motors.

[07.10.2012]

6/12Within a month, the body had been primed and blocked, including the louvered skins for the rear doors. Mackey’s decided to blend the vintage aircraft theme with Gasser look of the ’60s. The van was dedicated to a friend of Brian Mackey who was a WWII Marine. If the van were to have won the Built From eBay contest, proceeds from the auction would have gone to Semper Fi Fund for injured Marines.

7/12Note the elimination of the stock vents below the windshield for the mean ’n’ clean look. Mackey’s couldn’t figure out what the vents were for in the first place. Also, note the Moon tank nestled into the bumper for the Gasser efect—with nose- up attitude adding greatly to that end.

[07.17.2012]

8/12Silver base with a Roth Metalflake enhancement and semi-gloss clearcoat gives just the right sparkle while keeping it retro warbird–looking. With less than 15 days remaining until completion due date, there’s still a lot that needs to be done before that August 1 reveal.

[08.01.2012]

12/12The Mackey’s/eBay Gasser looks the part if not exactly running like it. Stopwatch quarter-mile times were in the 12s, which is still good enough for not having touched the engine. More can be seen at BuiltFromEbay.com.

Got Pics?

If you’ve built or restored your car and have documented it in pictures every step of the way, we might be able to use your story in HOT ROD. Contact us to find out. Mail: Hot Rod Start To Finish, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245. Email: hotrod@HotRod.com.